Response of early weaned pigs to an escherichia coli challege and their absorption to ovalbumin or xylose as influenced by creep feeding

The effect of exposure to creep feed at 10 d of age vs no exposure to creep feed or sow's feed on the ability of pigs weaned at 21 d of age to respond to an oral challenge of E. coll or to absorb ovalbumin or xylose was investigated. Eighty pigs (45 exposed, 35 control) were orally challenged 24 h after weaning with 3x1011 organisms of E. coli (0157 H88AC:H43); control pigs tended (P<.10) to scour more than the exposed pigs (46% vs 27%). Ovalbumin absorption was similar for both exposed and control pigs (P>.10), but absorption for both treatments increased (P<.001) from d 1 to d 4 and decreased to d 13 (P<.001). Xylose absorption was less (P<.02) at d 1 for exposed pigs compared with control pigs (0.781 vs .825 mmol) with no differences (P>.20) occurring thereafter. Lowest xylose absorption for both treatments occurred on d 7. Creep feeding conferred some protection to the E. coll challenge, but had little effect on intestinal absorption of ovalbumin and xylose.